Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant®
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $650 |
| Welcome offer | 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles | |
| Dining | 1x | 3x |
| Groceries | 2x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 3x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 2x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $352 | $544 |
| Points type | Locked to American Airlines AAdvantage | Locked to Marriott Bonvoy |
| Network | Mastercard | Amex |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified July 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles | Up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points |
| To earn it | $500 in 3 months | $6,000 in 6 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $502 | $1,694 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $352 | $194 |
This one splits by time horizon. In year one the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® is ahead by roughly $1,192, thanks largely to its welcome offer. But the Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® earns more every year after, so if you keep it, it overtakes the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® after about 9 years. Chasing the sign-up bonus and open to canceling before the second annual fee? Take the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant®. Planning to keep it for years? The Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® pulls ahead.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | Yes — Priority Pass |
| Annual credits | None | ~$300/yr (3 credits) |
| Points & redemptions | Locked to a single program | Locked to a single program |
On perks and redemptions, only the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® gets you into airport lounges; the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® carries the heavier credit stack (about $300 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Neither card earns transferable points, so redemptions are cash-back or fixed portal value on both, roughly a cent per point. There is no airline or hotel transfer angle to separate them.
Opposite ends of the spectrum: a free entry-level airline card versus a $650 premium hotel card, so this really depends on your travel and how much you’ll pay for perks.
The MileUp is the no-fee way to dip into American miles, 2x on groceries and AA with a small bonus. The Brilliant is loaded with Marriott value, Platinum status, an annual free night up to 85,000 points, a dining credit, and lounge access, but only pays off if you stay at Marriott. Free AA miles vs premium Marriott perks.
Pros and cons
- 2x at grocery stores and on American, no annual fee
- An easy, free way to earn AA miles
- A modest welcome bonus
- Zero commitment
- Low earning and no airline perks
- Miles locked to American
- Not a premium travel card
- 6x at Marriott and automatic Platinum status
- An annual free night (up to 85,000 points)
- A $300+ dining credit and lounge access
- A huge Marriott points welcome bonus
- $650 fee, only for real Marriott guests
- Points locked to Marriott
- Credits are dining and Marriott specific
- Overkill if you don’t stay at Marriott
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fee & commitment | AA MileUp | $0 vs $650. |
| Hotel perks | Marriott Brilliant | Platinum status, a free night, a dining credit. |
| Airline miles | AA MileUp | Earns AA miles; the Brilliant earns Marriott points. |
| Welcome bonus | Marriott Brilliant | A far larger points haul. |
| Best for | Depends | Casual AA flyers vs Marriott loyalists. |
The verdict
If you just want to bank American miles for free, the MileUp is a fine low-stakes card, 2x on groceries and AA with no fee to justify. It won’t wow anyone, but it costs nothing and quietly builds miles.
If you stay at Marriott often, the Brilliant can justify its $650, the annual free night plus the $300 dining credit and lounge access can cover much of the fee before you count Platinum status and the huge bonus. They’re not alternatives: a free airline starter versus a premium hotel card. Choose by whether you want effortless AA miles or a loaded Marriott card, and note the Brilliant only stays worth it if you use the free night every single year.